Page 532 of End Game

Because I do know.

There were glucose checks at two in the morning.

Juice boxes in every purse.

My mother sitting through diabetes education with a notebook in her lap.

My father learning carbohydrate math even though numbers made him miserable.

They loved me.

They just had a habit of loving me like something might go wrong if they loosened their grip.

Mom looks between Griffin and me. “You finally have someone stable. Someone responsible. Someone with a career and health insurance and—”

A laugh escapes me.

Not because it's funny.

Because of course.

“There's the part I was waiting for.”

“What?”

“Griffin is the good decision.”

“I didn't say that.”

“You didn't have to.”

“Cami—”

“No. Ryan was the good decision too, remember?”

The room changes.

Mom's mouth closes.

Dad looks down.

Even Clay's posture tightens.

I hadn't planned to go there.

Apparently my mouth has other ideas. “You loved him.”

“We thought he was good to you.”

“You believed him when he told everyone I was crazy.”

Mom flinches. “We did not—”

“You believed enough of it.”

My voice wobbles.

I hate that.